Given that delayed-onset muscle soreness in response to extreme exercise is so common, exercise physiologists are actively researching the potential role for anti-inflammatory drugs and other supplements in the prevention and treatment of such muscle soreness, but no conclusive recommendations are currently available. Although anti-inflammatory drugs do appear to reduce the muscle soreness--a good thing--they may slow the ability of the muscle to repair the damage, which may have negative consequences for muscle function in the weeks following the strenuous event.
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Add CommentThe article is comprehensive.I used soft tissue mobilization for 5 patients. though painful, they generally reported a 30%decrease in pain 2 hours later, and about 80% decrease in pain 24 hours later. Alonge Ibidunni- Nigeria
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn response to magoly: The article says that lactic acid build up does not cause muscle soreness.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisQuestion based on magoly's question: Doesn't lactic acid build up go away pretty soon after it builds up, i.e., during exercise or soon after strenuous activity?
Anyway, I think this article is confusing. After rereading parts of it, I still don't understand the difference between how the body breaks down pyruvate when it has plenty of oxygen and how it breaks down pyruvate when it has limited oxygen. The way it is explained in the article, pyruvate is broken down further for energy when the body has plenty of oxygen and also broken down further when it has limited oxygen. The question is one a non-scientist, like myself, would ask, but the answer seems meant for someone who already understands the process.
Yes, (in response to "learning always" which is an excellent name) the article assumes that you have a basic understanding of glycolysis. When you have oxygen in your system the pyruvate can be converted to acetyl CoA and go therough the citric acid cycle (also called the kreb's cycle), and chemiosmosis, where it is futher broken down to yeild most of the cell's usuable energy. These two processes require oxygen in order to proceed. There are three end products of glycolysis the ATP (which is used by the body), and NADH and Pyruvate. In the presence of oxygen the NADH participates in chemiosmosis and the pyruvate is broken down in the citric acid cycle, but without oxygen the NADH (which needs to lose an H to keep glycolysis running) uses its H in a chemical process that turns pyruvate in to lactate. The difference is the processes used to break down the pyruvate with and without oxygen. I hope that is ok it is a really short answer (believe it or not) to a great question.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAs for the climber I would bet that it is some soreness due to the exercise not the lactic acid. Ice baths (although not fun) really help to reduce soreness after exercise. However if the soreness is already present stretching is the best cure. (I am an avid runner and know about this one all too well!)
Yes, (in response to "learning always" which is an excellent name) the article assumes that you have a basic understanding of glycolysis. When you have oxygen in your system the pyruvate can be converted to acetyl CoA and go therough the citric acid cycle (also called the kreb's cycle), and chemiosmosis, where it is futher broken down to yeild most of the cell's usuable energy. These two processes require oxygen in order to proceed. There are three end products of glycolysis the ATP (which is used by the body), and NADH and Pyruvate. In the presence of oxygen the NADH participates in chemiosmosis and the pyruvate is broken down in the citric acid cycle, but without oxygen the NADH (which needs to lose an H to keep glycolysis running) uses its H in a chemical process that turns pyruvate in to lactate. The difference is the processes used to break down the pyruvate with and without oxygen. I hope that is ok it is a really short answer (believe it or not) to a great question.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAs for the climber I would bet that it is some soreness due to the exercise not the lactic acid. Ice baths (although not fun) really help to reduce soreness after exercise. However if the soreness is already present stretching is the best cure. (I am an avid runner and know about this one all too well!)
Is there any connection between all of this, and "fibromyalgia"? I am a 55 yr old woman who has always had "bulky" and toned muscles that have taken a long time to recover from exercise. One time I challenged some neighborhood children to a little sprint. I took off running but fell flat on my face because my legs simply locked up and quit moving! I am trying to figure what is going on, but without the help of the $$-driven drug companies!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI just climbed Half Dome in Yosemite on Saturday and while climbing, had a lot of lactic acid build up to where I had to stop and go more than I had ever before (I have climbed it about 6 times in the past 13 years). I am a 55 year old female in fairly good shape. I admit I am not as physically fit as in the past, but not bad at all. Today is Tuesday and I am still very sore. My husband did the hike with me, is the same age and fitness and he is not sore. What can I do different next time?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTo Curious Cat: Sounds like a cramp to me.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisquery: I have undifferentiated connective tissue disorder. I'm an aging (65 years old) female athlete (20 years of ballet) and professional garden designer of the hands-on variety. Although I spent the winter staying fit (running, weights, and oh- did I mention I teach Pilates - machines - this May I suffered an extreme episode of my connective tissue disorder which included sudden muscle pain, spasms, weakness, wasting, and weight loss (12 pounds in a couple weeks). Very scary. I'd been working very hard trying to get a clients garden ready for a garden tour. My obsevation is that - while there may be and probably are other factors that play a role in my disorder - the extreme physicality of what I was doing seemed to contribute to the downward spiral. It took me two months to get back on my feet and I've only now (September) almost fully recovered my strength. So my question that in someone with a compromised immune system and some kind of existing (invisible) inflammatory process going on, perhaps DOMS recovery times are even greater than they are for normal bodies. Anybody studied this?
What happens when this process goes bad? I am a 43 yr. old female who has been experencing the lactic acid buildup burn since 1997. I didn't know what it was and was diagnosed with fibromyniga. My muscles are always tensed like if I was getting ready to do an activity or doing an activity they never go to the relax stage anymore. The pain of the burn is always in my muscles arms, legs, joints, to the point where I can't do anything. I now believe that the lactic acid buildup in my muscles are not being released at all. Can it be caused by a lack of oxygen? if so how do i get extra oxygen to my muscles?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI there an expert out there?
I was also diag. with fibro. I have burning sensations throughout my muscles and after a very mild activities such as walking or play with my kids my muscles remain sore for days.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat happens when this process goes bad? I am a 43 yr. old female who has been experencing the lactic acid buildup burn since 1997. I didn't know what it was and was diagnosed with fibromyniga. My muscles are always tensed like if I was getting ready to do an activity or doing an activity they never go to the relax stage anymore. The pain of the burn is always in my muscles arms, legs, joints, to the point where I can't do anything. I now believe that the lactic acid buildup in my muscles are not being released at all. Can it be caused by a lack of oxygen? if so how do i get extra oxygen to my muscles?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI there an expert out there?
I am a 70 year old female who has had fibromyalgia for 20 years. I exercise in a class 3x per week (quite strenuously). I get terribly sore muscle "bumps" all along both outer thighs. I use Ben-gay and pressure from my nuckles to work out these tender sore lumps and bumps. Is there any way i can avoid this happening? Walking up and down stairs causes the same thing. Very frustrating. Otherwise in very good health.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHurting lots of the time:
WHAT IS SOFT TISSUE MOBILIZATION?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisi am a 70 year old female and have some arthritis and fibromyalgia for 20 years. I get muscle lumps and bumps in my outer thighs, which massage therapists, and pt people call lactic acid build-up. What can i do to keep this from happening? carita
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI am a 70 year old woman with arthritis and fibromyalgia. I get painful lumps and bumps of sore muscle tissue on my outer thighs. Is it from lack of oxygen? I take an anti-inflammatory already. I exercise 3x per week. Massage helps but only for a little while. Going up steps causes a lot of this.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisCarita
Does alcohol consumption cause an increase in lactic acid build up, even with out exercise.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisCF
Ok, if I hear the author correctly, it's all about the oxygen. I am a 52 yr young male runner returning to running after a 4 month injury recovery hiatus. Yesterday I did my first 3 mile regular run. Today I'm sore as Hades. In an unrelated query, and having ran 4 myself, if Marathon runners were to go on immediate oxygen therapy for several hours (I imagine) or more after completing their run, could you see it as beneficial? Granted it should be well out of the public view for ego protection <grin> but what do you think of it's merits for DOMS therapy?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisEMG test determined Muscle Fibre Abnormality, mean motor unit potiential is reduced . What is mean motor unit ?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIschaemic arm exercise test, was able to exercise for only one minute before stopping. Test results showed more than four fold rise lactate, rise in ammonia was poor. What would a normal test result be ?.
Can anybody explain how such might effect muscles. ?
ok I went to the gym the Tuesday and did my normal routine including 5lb free weights the next morning my right hand was hurting and has a little bump on top of my wrist where the hand meets the wrist and it feels like a little bit of liquid I don't know how to get rid of it
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisJulie777,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThat sounds like a ganglion cyst.
I have one, it's no harm, but it is generally permanent, as far as I know.
painwithoutacause........this sounds like acid buildup, maybe recently you have started to eat more protein? such as meat?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisstill for this articel it left out somethings because they havent been discovered yet.....dont know how it excatly work.
I started a job that requires me to cut fabric etc. in a design center. For weeks my right thumb in the joint has been hurting and very painful. My Chiro said it was a build up of lactic acid. I needed to massage it every day because it can eventually lead to Arthritis. Even use heat to help the muscle release the lactic acid. Will this every go away?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI am a 54 year old female that has had a chronic stiff neck for over 1 year. The pain has recently proceeded down my back to the lower back and sciatic pain. I did not exercise to get the stiff neck. It just appeared one day and never went away.What can I do to get more oxygen to those muscles. My Dr suggested Yoga and swimming so I have started some mild stretching which I think is helping.Does this sound like lactic acid buildup?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThey don't believe that the lactic acid is what actually causes the burn though from what I am reading. I don't believe it is that simple. It seems counter productive that the muscle cells acidity would signal a "pain" response from another cell.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYou can read about hormonal effects on muscle cells here if you want here.
http://www.androcycle.com/best-prohormone-supplements/
I'm a runner and I have been feeling this warm/pain in my legs for the past 2 months. I went from running 13 miles to not being able to run 5k's with out having to walk due to the pain. I stretch, work out, and run/bike/elliptical multiple times a week. why is this a sudden on set? I'm 26 years old. and is it the lactic acid? How can this be prevented? I have my 3rd half marathon coming up in 2 months and I am not prepared and have little time to get there... HELP!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhy hasn't anyone answered the query's regarding Fibromyalgia??
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHow come there are no answers to the fibromyalgia queries??
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have successfully stopped fibro attacks within an hour for over 10 yrs. I use an essential oil wrap and it has worked EVERY time. I have notice that many times in the last 10 years, I have treated patients who have had auto accidents but exhibit little to no injury eacept overall pain described the same as my fibro patients. This would sometimes continue for 2-3 weeks. I started using the wrap on them and stopped it immediately every time. They seem to exhibit the same symptoms as a fibro patient and I wonder if it is the same. I know my fibro patients can have an attack set off by "mental or emotional" trauma and this seems to be what has happend in the non injury auto accident victims. I use the same wrap to stop lactic acid buildup in athletes. Just an example of this is a mountain biker who reports that every time I wrap him he can ride a course he has ridden hundreds of times and for the next 2-3 days no matter how hard he pumps the uphill portion he cannot get a lactic acid burn, cutting his time by an average of 10%. This is in a two hour uphill ride. He also reports a drop in his recovery time at the top from 5-6 min. to only 1 min. He also reports NO soreness following this ride. I just had a 30 yr old lady who has been running for only a yr. and never more than a half marathon report that she just ran a full marathon while having the flu and in very cold weather and completing in 4:38 with NO soreness the next day or days after. The time is shocking and she said she never got a muscle burn at any time during the run although she was so tired at 22 mi. she wanted to quit but did not. She also expected to be very sore the next days but is not. I wonder if the fibro, auto accident and atheltes have a severe slowing down of the lymph system or even almost stopping of it and it results in thier problems and the wrap opens the system up. I do know it works within the hour on all involved and as fibro patients continue to use it thier attacks lessen and get further between and after some months they report no further attacks. The athletes all report that it is impossible for them to get a lactic acid buildup and muscle burn along with no soreness following.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI too am a Fibromyalgia sufferer - I saw a TV programme last night which featured a Doctor in the UK explaining what happens to our muscles , although she states that Lactic acid build up is involved. You will also find some other useful info on her website www.drmyhill.co.uk Regards Dean
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisp.s. you will find re-runs of the programme on www.emtvonline.co.uk - where you can access the live stream but the next time it is showed is tomorrow morning UK time 8-9 a.m. or you can watch it anytime by pay per view.
I too am a Fibromyalgia sufferer - I saw a TV programme last night which featured a Doctor in the UK explaining what happens to our muscles , although she states that Lactic acid build up is involved. You will also find some other useful info on her website www.drmyhill.co.uk Regards Dean
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisp.s. you will find re-runs of the programme on www.emtvonline.co.uk - where you can access the live stream but the next time it is showed is tomorrow morning UK time 8-9 a.m. or you can watch it anytime by pay per view.
TreatmentGuy, please describe your essential oil treatment wrap. I'd like to give that a try for myself on heavy exercise days as well as with my mother who has Fibromyalgia. You can email me directly if necessary (brent walker at yahoo dot com; remove all spaces)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHi treatment guy, I deal with a lot of muscle pain as well and am curious about what you've found. I would really love more information on your essential oil wrap. Please email me: bonjour_cest_me@hotmail.com
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat is this essential oil wrap!!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisCan i buy it over the counter?
How much does it cost????
Who can perform this type of procedure??
OMG=-)
My daughter is a Division 1 college field hockey athlete. Since the start of preseason training, she complains that her legs are very sore, "dead as logs". So much so it interferes with her ability to run, after only 10 to 15 minutes of running in the game or practice. She is only 19 and otherwise in top physical conditions. This has been severly limiting her ability to compete at the necessary level of play. Electorlytes (Gatorlyte mixed with Gatoraide) some times resolves the issue of a short period of time. Is this Lactic Acid build up? What other conditions might this be? She has seen the doctors at school, and is also working with the nurtionist. Her vitamin D reading were slightly low, with most lab results normal. They are thinking of doing a muscle biopsy? Any suggestions on what might be causing her mucsle fatigue would be appreciated?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPlease tell me what essential oil wrap consists of or tell where i can buy some or who to go see that does this! Please i have been searching for awhile!!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWho is this treatmentguy??? Dude PLEASE respond!!!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI tried to lose some weight a year ago by walking 30 minutes everyday. One day, I walked more than usual,about 70 minutes. Right after, I had pain in the front muscle of my right thigh. It felt like it is tight all the time. After a month I damaged my knee because of the pulling of the thigh muscle. The tightness spread to the back of the thigh and upward. Now I feel the same pain in the left thigh. The doctors didn't see anything wrong after the MRI. I don't like being forced to be inactive especially after I lost 30 Lbs.Do you have an explanation for me?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have heard that baking soda helps to counteract lactic acid build up. I have not tried this before and am not sure how much you should ingest. I get lactic acid build-up periodically. It is painful for a short period but soon dissipates (less than 40 minutes).
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn response to lolomimi. When ever you increase your exercise intensity you should never increase by more than 10% at one time. In your case you more than doubled your normal workload. You should wait at least two weeks in between each increase if I recall correctly.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisFor more information we would definitely need more information such as age, relative weight and fitness level.